The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-09-01
TIMBER OF THE REGION.
The Great Variety 81 Usefal Forest
trowths.
Woods NJ she Very Doors OF she
faetertes-AtiraetsOns Of Men,
phis for wspA workers.

phts for We'd workers.
There is no great trade center in
the country 50 superabundantly sur
rounded and supplied with varied
and salable timber as Memphis. For
hundreds of miles around, in the tri-
sections which pour their commerce
Of every kind into her marts, the
country is filed with a forest pro-
ductive Of the best, finest and most
serviceable timber. Beautiful in
spring for its foliage, and POLITICALLY
suggestive whom the autumnal frosts
have tinted.it with golden hue, il is
attractive indeed to the lover and
artistic student Of nature, but not 20
materially as to he who fells, draws,
saws and shapes it into solid worth
for the palatisl homo Of the son of
boarded wealth, the spacious manu-
featuring establishments, in which
thousands earn their daily living not
only for themselves, but for Others
dependent upon them, and, in fact.
for every line OF trade which makes
city or country attractive. Fortu-
nately for the city, this virgin forest
is being utilized not alone for home
purposes, but large quantities of it
find ready market 10 distant
sections OF the country. The princi-
pal timbsrs used here are poplar.
cypress, pine, aud in tho wagon trade
white oak. Very little costly hard
timber, such as walnut, cherry, ETC.,
is brought here, from the simple
TACT that il is very expensive, aud
is used mostly in the East and for
oign countries In tho way of fixtures
and residences built regardless of
cost. There are only three mills in
Memphis, but there are indications
that there will soon be more, These
alone turn out 10000 feet per day.
Kyery demand 10 the way Of flooring,
ceiling, facings for doors and win
dows, blinds, shades, etc., are made,
and satisfactorily made, to suit the |
most exacting, right here. Memphis
does not have 10 send elsewhere for |
one bit OF the wooden material |
for any building, il matters not of |
whatever prioe or architecture, un-
less it be Of that costly material |
which has just been mentioned,
and, be il remembered that |
the same material is in plente. |
Gus growth within an hours ride of |
Memphis, and could be had much |
cheaper here, but for the reason that
there is not an every day demand for
IL. Up in Craighead, Poinsett, and
Green counties, Arkansas, through
the Sunk Lands, there is scarcely any
other timber save black walnut. The
cutting aud rafting Of il IL a remun-
erativo industry, and capitalists
eagerly buy every'acre oft they can.
During high water it is aoated down
TO Helena. There is a mill there
land thcro ought to be one at Mem
phis), which saws ID up in blocks,
from the smallest to any size and |
length wanted. IL l. carried straight
way TO Liverpool, where il demands |
and brings fabulous price per inch !
or foot from what il originally did in !
the rough. There il another re-
munorative use being put TO our
poplar especially. and TO our oak
10 part, and that is box manuiactur-
ing. Memnhis does not have to
send ouisitb Of her corporate |
limits for q single goods |
box, IL matters not Of whatever size.
More than this. all Of the fruit crates.
in which our wealth Of fruit and veg |
etables are sent north. are not only |
manufactured here. but dozens Of
other cities are supplied with them.
These are made principally Of cotton
wood, which Is INDIGENOUS 10 this |
section. Cottonwood is soft and
easily turned into shape. IL il so /
soft and yielding that choppers ere
not allowed by 8 per cent. as much A |
day for feline II rs they are oaks.
The soil IL we'll adapted ard tho
luxuriant climate in the tripod Tor.
riiory adjoining Memphis Is prolific !
81 any kind Of forests. The most |
delicate. fruit bearing plant, which
yields in the tropics, with tho proper |
care, will reward lie tenant here.
The almond tree Yields It's rich ker.
nelcd nut. and tho orange will not !
fail 81 lie juicy. golden product in this !
salubrious climate, ifpropcr care Il |
taken Of u during the short. cold |
months that We have.
Notwithstanding the productive.
ness Of our soil aud the apparently |
incxhaustible supply which sur.
rounds US, n one who has observed
the constant draft upon II and the
increasing demand, Il Is evident that |
there Is growing necessity that this |
vast resource NJ our wealth be econo.
mised, and the time IL fast annroacb. !
ing, u already not arrived, when
rigid forestry laws, such A. thew have
In the Eas' snd Northwest, will have |
10 he enac'ed and enforced.
For miles on either side ~ all the
older railroads leading into Memphis,
the timber Is almost entirely de. !
pleted. On tho new roads. snch "A
the Kansas Ci,y and Birmingham |
aud tho Mississippi Valley, which |
traverse Tor miles adjacent 10 Mem |
phis swamp lands covered by tower.
ing timber, much NJ n Of gigantic
sine, the question " being discussed !
how 10 save Y and make I, profitable |
instead OF It's being deadened ono
season 10 be burned tho next. |
Movable engines. with sawmill.at. |
tachmcnts, have been tried. hut thoy |
will not do IN he slouVhs whore tho |
water stands al tho year round. and |
have 10 be moved or entirely disabled |
during high water ia the localities |
where they 'rc situated. The most |
practical plan 30 FAR tried In such |
ierriiory Is n the Dismal swamp of |
Virginia, where in the dry season
deep. narrow bitches are duc. tho |
timber cut, ard whom the water rises |
tho logs are placed In than, s;n,iy